KidneysThe ACHIEVE study, an international collaboration between PHRI and The George Institute for Global Health in Australia, has been awarded $2,850,988.40 and will examine the effect of spironolactone (a mineralocorticoid antagonist) compared to placebo in outcomes of cardiovascular death and heart failure in dialysis patients. The global team will recruit approximately 2,750 participants across North America, Europe, UK, and the Asia Pacific Region. The award is part of the Unmet Needs Clinical Trials program within the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

The global burden of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) has increased dramatically over the last 2 decades. Globally 2.5 million people receive dialysis for ESKD; however, outcomes for these patients are still poor. Cardiovascular disease, particularly heart failure, is the leading cause of death in dialysis patients. In the general population, the use of mineralocorticoid antagonists, such as spironolactone, that help the body get rid of excess salt and water, have been shown to reduce mortality and hospital admissions. However, this standard therapy is rarely used in patients with end-stage kidney disease as there remain concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the treatment.

Martin Gallagher (@kidneybloke on Twitter), Associate Professor at UNSW Sydney, and Mike Walsh, Assistant Professor, Division of Nephrology, McMaster Department of Medicine, and Principal Investigator – CVD Prevention and Risk Factors program, PHRI, are co-leading the ACHIEVE study.

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